Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 79800 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 399(@200wpm)___ 319(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79800 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 399(@200wpm)___ 319(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
Tears well in her eyes. “I want to be yours,” she whispers.
“What else?”
“I don’t know. I’ve never had the luxury of dreaming for anything more.”
“Then, move in with me. Quit the agency, maybe take a few weeks or months to think about it, take a couple of classes. Just move in with me.”
“I love you.”
“I love you, too. Does that mean yes?”
She nods. “That means yes.”
“What are you two whispering about over there?” Reid asks.
“Just convinced my girl to move in with me,” I tell him. Everyone cheers, and my heart feels too big for my chest.
This is what happiness feels like.
It feels like Eden.
It feels like home.
Chapter Twenty
Eden
* * *
I’m nervous. Today is my first-ever football game, and my man will be out on that field. It’s just preseason, so it doesn’t count—or that’s what I’ve been told—but I’m still nervous. Hence, the reason our bed is covered in clothes. All items I’ve tried on and decided against wearing before tossing them onto the bed.
I groan as I look at the mess, and I still don’t know what I’m wearing. I have a jersey with his name and number on it, and he told me he couldn’t wait to see me in it, but is that what the other ladies wear? We were supposed to plan a shopping trip, but sick kiddos happened, and life, and well, we never got around to it.
My phone rings, and I sigh, grabbing it and seeing Sloane’s name on the screen. I smile even though I’m annoyed with myself, because Foster’s friends’ wives have brought me into their lives as if I’ve always been there. I have more people in my life than ever before, and damn if my cup is not running over with love and happiness.
“Hey,” I answer.
“Let me guess, you’re sitting on the floor of your closet, trying to decide what to wear?”
“Been here, have you? And no, I’m staring at the pile of clothes that I’ve already tried on but decided against.”
“We’ve all been there, Eden. However, I have the fix. I’m at your front door.”
“What? You’re here? Why?” I ask, already moving toward the door. I rush down the stairs, pull open the front door, and sure enough, Sloane is standing there. She grins, ends the call, and slides her phone into her back pocket.
“Am I late?” I ask, thinking maybe I got the agreed-upon time wrong.
“Nope. I’m just early. Corie and the kids are waiting in the car while I give you this.” She hands me a gift bag.
“What is it?”
“A little something I’ve done for each of the ladies in our group. Now, go grab a pair of jeans and some sneakers. Wait, put what’s in the bag on, then jeans, sneakers, and the jersey, and you’re all set.”
“Don’t I have to make some kind of fashion statement or something?”
“I mean, you can if you want to, but we’re not about that life. We dress in what makes us feel good. Our men don’t care as long as we’re there, with their name and number on our backs.”
I take a look at what she’s wearing, and sure enough, Baker’s jersey, jeans, and tennis shoes. Her hair is down in soft waves, and suddenly I feel ridiculous for making such a big deal out of this.
“Go. I’ll be out in the car, helping Corie keep the kids occupied—well, Cam. Alexander is sleeping unless my son has woken him up.” She grins before turning on her heel and heading back to her SUV. I wave at Corie, who waves back. I shut the door and run back upstairs with my gift bag.
Back in our room, I remove the tissue paper from the bag and pull out a bra. It’s in that dark Rampage yellow color, with a wide band. On the band, it says VAUGHN, written in black embroidery, and I chuckle. Sloane’s right. Foster is going to love this.
I look back into the bag to make sure I didn’t miss anything. Reaching inside, I pull out a pair of panties in the same color. On the back, they have Property of 25 in the same black embroidery. “Looks like I’m getting lucky tonight,” I say to myself as I pull off my jersey, strip naked, and step into my new gift. I quickly get redressed in the jersey Foster bought for me, slide into my favorite pair of jeans, and rush to the closet for my shoes and socks. Five minutes later, I’m sliding into the back seat of the SUV beside Camden.
“Hey, buddy.” I smile at him.
“E!” Camden says, handing me his stuffed Rowdy the Rhino. I kiss Rowdy, lean over, and drop one on Camden’s cheek, as well, before handing Rowdy back to him, who also gives kisses to him.
“Thank you for the gift,” I tell Sloane.